Piper PA-601P accident near South Of Wicken, Arizona, July 24, 1982
On July 24, 1982 at about 3:50 am local time, a Piper PA-601P, registered N3642T, was destroyed in an accident near South Of Wicken, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1982 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- South Of Wicken, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-601P
- Registration
- N3642T · no longer on the register · serial 61P827816343
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1005 MST THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING FOR A FLT TO FLORIDA WITH AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN TEXAS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS FORECAST ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT. THE BRIEFER ADVISED THE PLT TO GET AN UPDATED BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTURE BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY & TO USE THE SERVICES OF ENROUTE FLIGHT WATCH OUTLETS IN OBTAINING PIREP INFORMATION. AT 2045 THE PLT CONTACTED PHOENIX TRACON & STATED HIS INTENTION TO LAND AT PHOENIX. THE PLT INDICATED HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS AT 17,500 FT. RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 2049. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 28 MI WNW OF LUKE AFB. PORTIONS OF BOTH WINGS WERE LOCATED 3 MI FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE ABOVE WX IS THE 2055 OBSERVATION AT LUKE AFB. THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE REPORTED STRONG WINDS & HEAVY ELECTRICAL STORMS IN THE AREA. A HELICOPTER PLT ESTIMATED A CEILING OF 1,500 FT OVERCAST.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 311 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C Torrance CA at 7:16 pm
- Destination: AI Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.